Wieseler Recognized With Avera Sacred Heart Hospital DAISY Award

Avera Sacred Heart Hospital is pleased to announce that Cortney Wieseler, RN, is the most recent recipient of our quarterly nurse recognition program called the DAISY Award.

The DAISY Program honors and celebrates the skillful and compassionate care nurses provide every day. DAISY is an acronym for “Diseases Attacking the Immune System.” The DAISY Award has grown into a meaningful recognition program embraced by health care organizations around the world, including multiple Avera facilities.

Nurses at any Avera Sacred Heart facilities are eligible to receive the DAISY Award.

“Winning this award means so much to me. It signifies a commitment for compassionate caring, which is something I strive to give to each of my patients with each encounter,” Wieseler said. “I know many of my colleagues are deserving of this award, so I feel very honored that I was nominated. Being a nurse means so much to me. I truly enjoy helping others, especially at such vulnerable times in their lives. I cannot think of another profession that allows me to help as many people as nursing does. Also, I feel no other profession allows me to feel God's presence like nursing does.”

She has been a registered nurse on the Medical/Surgical Floor at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital since July 2022.

Wieseler was nominated by the loved ones of two patients. The first was by a family whose mother was in hospice care.

“Our goal was to keep Mom as comfortable as possible. Cortney was on top of keeping her free from pain and nausea, always informing us what she was giving her and what else she could do for her,” they wrote. “The night Mom expired, Cortney was working and called me about the change in her breathing. When I arrived, she was almost constantly in the room doing whatever she could do for her in her last hours. It was so comforting to me when I heard Cortney's voice that night she called. My whole family was so comforted to know she was with Mom in her final hours. We all felt she was simply exceptional!” 

The second nomination was from the friend of a patient who had undergone surgery.

“The way she treated my friend meant the world to me,” stated the nomination. “Cortney took time to make sure my friend was comfortable. She spoke with a calm and kind voice. I was able to go home that evening with such peace in my heart, knowing that my friend was in excellent hands.”

Both of the nominations are special, Wieseler said.

“My approach to care really just involves being personable with my patients, meeting their needs as effectively as I can while also showing compassion,” she stated. “This also goes for patient family members.”

Wieseler said she is blessed to be a part of Avera Sacred Heart.

“I love that every day is different on this unit I see a variety of patients and illnesses,” she said. “I have learned so much in such a short time. That’s, in part, due to my co-workers and supervisors, who are so helpful and easy to get along with.”

A committee of community members and Avera employees evaluates the DAISY Award nominations and selects a winner every quarter.

The DAISY Foundation was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Patrick died at age 33 in 1999 from complications of the auto-immune disease Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.

For more information, visit DaisyFoundation.org.

Anyone who has had a positive nursing care experience can nominate a deserving nurse for a DAISY award by filling out the online form at DAISYnomination.org/4381.

CUTLINE:

Cortner Wieseler, RN, (holding the flowers) was recently recognized with Avera Sacred Heart Hospital’s quarterly DAISY Award. She has been a registered nurse on the Medical/Surgical Floor at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital since July 2022.